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Thursday, November 6, 2014

Remembering Miss Edna, 1930 - 2014

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: My mother-in-law, Miss Edna, died on Tuesday, November 1, 2014. I feel so lucky to have met this amazing woman, to have known her for seventeen years, and lived with her and cared for her for the past year and a half.She loved her family, she loved reading mysteries, she loved wearing Chanel No. 5, and she loved everything red, perhaps especially red wine.There's a great story about Miss Edna that my husband told at her memorial service that really epitomizes her philosophy of living life to the fullest — and I'd like him to share it with you. NOEL MACNEAL:On her sixty-fifth birthday, I took my mother to Disney World and invited a couple of friends down. We had her celebration at Epcot. There's a hotel complex nearby where you can rent a pontoon boat and they'll take you out on Epcot's lake to watch the fireworks display. I called and explained it was my mom's birthday, and for no extra charge, they provided a birthday cake. We were out on the lake, watching the fireworks and singing "Happy Birthday" to my mom. People on the bridge applauded and said "Happy birthday!" and we waved back. And as we're heading back, the boat's engine stalls. It just died and we started drifting toward the weeds. Now, anyone else might have started screaming about how her birthday was ruined and we're not going to pay a time, etc. But my mom loved it. She was laughing the whole time. "Now, this is a birthday, I'm going to remember!" she said. The boat driver ended up ripping up part of the table my mother's cake was on and using it as a paddle to get us across the lake and back to the hotel dock. My mom was just sitting there, eating cake, saying, "Yes, this will make a great story someday."

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Reds and lovely readers, are there any people in your life who taught you about living life to the fullest? Who were they and how did they share that with you? Please tell us in the comments.

Susan, what sad news for all who knew and loved your wonderful Miss Edna. Your love for her and the special sparkle that she was came through in your writing about her. You and your family are in my prayers.

So sorry for your loss. Enjoyed all the stories you have told us about Miss Edna. The eulogy reminded me of my mom, and it's a Disney story, too. She was about 60 years old the first time we took her to Disneyland. We had to stop her from mowing down the little ones in her excitement to hug Minnie. During the parade she had to be told several times by Disney cast members to please get down from the table - she was short and couldn't see! When she became ill she would get out of breath so needed a wheelchair. Out of breath until we got where we were going and she would pop right out of the wheelchair. She was never afraid to show her joy for anything or anyone she loved.

What a wonderful tribute to an amazing woman, Susan. Thank you for sharing Miss Edna with us even during your grieving.

My friend Anzie was diagnosed with very aggressive breast cancer in 1998. And she turned it into a party. She'd tell everyone right down to the grocery cashier she had breast cancer. She got in touch with friends worldwide. And she beat the damn thing, after surgery and radiation and a chemo so severe she had to be in isolation. Since then she has danced, traveled and lived overseas, thrown massive Bastille Day galas, and makes her life a party every day.

I am so sorry for your family's loss, Susan. I've enjoyed reading about Miss Edna, and I worried about her whenever you mentioned that she was sick. And as Lucy/Roberta said, your son was fortunate to have his grandma so close by.

My sympathy to your entire family, Susan. I've enjoyed your mentions of Miss Edna on this blog and am glad her passing prompted you to share more about her and her wonderful attitude about life.

I have a similar woman in my life--my 93-year-old Mom, who still shows the occasional glimmer of her life-of-the-party self despite the unwelcome guest of Alzheimers at her table. Looking at family photographs usually brings it out. A brief flash of recognition for a person, a place, a time prompts her to turn on her high-wattage smile, which still has the power to light a room.

When my Grandfather, Wilfred Osmond, turned 100 in 1999 over 200 people showed up for an open house for him at his senior's residence - he was adored by many. I think his longevity was partially due to his natural curiosity about people and world events. He died in 2002, a week after his 103rd birthday, he had lived in 3 centuries. Here's part of his story: http://ngb.chebucto.org/Articles/bbh-003.shtml

I'm so glad to have known Miss Edna just a little as an online friend. I loved her wit and her spunk. I hope I make the most of my later years as she did.My role model was a hiking friend who died at 94. She hiked with us until 6 months before she died and her mantra was "Age is a number and mine is unlisted."

Susan I feel so blessed to have known Miss Edna through your stories. What inspiration! I too had someone like that in my life: my grandma. Up to the end she put on her bright Avon lipstick, and during the last 10 years of her life, when she had to carry an oxygen tank, she got on the bus every day in Seattle to go to the market, take swimming lessons or simply talk to others. It was at the beginning of the AIDS crisis, and she taught me that no one should be exempt from compassion and understanding. Before she stopped drinking, her great advice to ten-year-old me was, "Never mix your liquors." I will forever picture her in her pretty housecoats (she was a wonderful seamstress) and mules - the housecoats always a little too short because she loved to show off her legs, even in her 70s! Wow, it felt good to remember her like that. Sending you lots of love today. Kim

Condolences to you and your family. What a fabulous lady! I love her attitude. I've always said that when things go wrong on a trip or during a celebration, it always makes the best story even if it drives you nuts while it's happening!

My parents are great role models for living life to the fullest. They have always been curious about the world, near and far, and they made sure their children saw things, read things, experienced things as much as possible. We never had much money, but they taught us to value experience over "things," and that continues to guide me today. I continue to feel that what I learn and do is more important than what I own. After all, you never see a U-haul behind a hearse! ;-)

Much sympathy to you and your whole family. Miss Edna sounds wonderful. I buried my 88 year old aunt on Tuesday. What a lot of history an 88 year old person holds! This week I have been going through her stuff -- and have found great treasures including letters. Give yourself time to heal.

Wow. What a lovely remembrance. Sounds like Miss Edna lived one of my favorite aphorisms: "Life should notbe a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body,but rather to skid in sideways,chocolate in one hand, RED WINE in the other, totally worn outand screaming WOO HOO what a ride!"

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